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Weight Loss Surgery Revision – A Second Chance

At Kim Bariatric Institute, weight loss revision surgery, or bariatric revision surgery, is about giving patients a second chance. The decision to undergo a weight loss procedure is only the beginning of the journey. Some patients may not respond well to their first operation with insufficient weight loss. Bariatric revision procedures are for those patients who didn’t lose enough weight in the initial operation . Having performed thousands of gastric bypass, LAP-BAND® System, and gastric sleeve procedures, Dr. David Kim is uniquely qualified to perform weight loss revision surgeries. Because of his vast experience with this increasingly complex procedure, patients across Texas and beyond seek his expertise when in need of additional weight loss surgery. Some patients may have suffered a complication with their first operation, and Dr. Kim is capable of correcting these complications

Dr. Kim is a rarity among bariatric surgeons because he specializes in a wide spectrum of weight loss procedures. His extensive experience and expansive grasp of the complexities of each weight loss procedure provides the insight needed to understand why some patients do not reach their goals. Dr. Kim appreciates the opportunity to help patients who have struggled with their first weight loss surgery because he strongly believes he can provide patients with effective tools to succeed in their pursuit of a healthier, happier life. In his experience as a bariatric surgeon in Dallas, Dr. Kim has also found weight loss revision surgery tends to be some of his most successful procedures; a fact he attributes to the increased commitment to making the right choices as patients pursue meaningful weight loss and a healthy transformation.

10% of Dr. Kim’s practice consists of revision bariatric surgery. In most cases these patients have had their first procedure elsewhere. They seek out Dr. Kim’s advice as a second opinion based on his experience and reputation. Dr. Kim has performed over 500 bariatric revision surgeries in Dallas. The most common reason patients provide when considering weight loss revision surgery is an unsatisfactory loss of weight after their first procedure. However, Dr. Kim notes the reasons for pursuing a revision surgery can be as varied and complex as the procedures themselves. To fully diagnose a patient’s weight loss needs, and determine if they qualify for bariatric revision surgery, Dr. Kim urges potential patients to contact Kim Bariatric Institute to make an appointment for a private consultation.

The LAP-BAND® System is one of the most common weight loss procedures. While Dr. Kim believes the gastric banding system is an excellent tool that allows patients to lose a considerable amount of weight; however, he also believes the procedure is not successful for a specific subset of patients. When a patient has not done well with the banding system, the next step in the weight loss process is often to remove the band and perform the gastric sleeve operation. Below is a list of common reasons for bariatric revision surgery, whether a patient is unhappy with the results of their first procedure, or experienced a complication that hindered their weight loss journey.

Difficulty Swallowing – despite various inflations and deflations of the band, the patient is either experiencing a band that is too tight, or too loose. When the band is too tight, the patient will often times choke or throw up. When it is too loose, the patient can over eat leading to weight gain. There is no “happy medium”.

Limited Dietary Choices – a patient may be limited to eating only mushy or soft foods, which are often very rich in carbohydrates. When they attempt to eat protein-rich foods such as chicken or beef, they experience choking or vomiting. These restrictions often lead a struggling LAP-BAND® patient to make poor dietary choices, or suffer from chronic hunger.

Heartburn – also known as GERD (Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease) is typically worse at night, and can be severe enough to cause pulmonary infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia. While bariatric surgeons have begun to address this with issue through the routine repair of hiatal hernias during the primary operation, it cannot guarantee GERD will be prevented. GERD is inevitable when the band exceeds lower esophageal sphincter pressure, and cannot be well-controlled with medications for acid reflux.

LAP-BAND Slip – either the band has slipped out of position or the pouch is unusually dilated. In most cases, emptying the band does not permanently fix the problem. In fact, Dr. Kim has noticed an empty band can give a normal X-ray appearance temporarily, and upon refill almost always lead to another slip. As a large slip can cut off circulation to the stomach, this is a serious cause for concern.

LAP-BAND® Erosion – another extremely serious and potentially life-threatening problem occurs when part of the band burrows into the lumen of the stomach organ itself.

Weight Loss Plateau – occurs when a patient loses some weight, but experiences a plateau despite increased effort. This can occur months to years after the band was inserted and hamper their ultimate weight loss goals, leaving them frustrated and discouraged.

Mechanical Failure – occurs when there is an apparent hole in the LAP-BAND®, either in the port, tubing, or band itself. Instead of choosing to undergo another gastric banding procedure, or risk the continuous and uncomfortable task of having to access the port, patients will often consider other options, including the gastric sleeve.

A number of alternatives to an unsuccessful LAP-BAND procedure exist for patients struggling to cope with the frustration of insufficient weight loss. According to Dr. Kim, one of the most popular choices is the gastric sleeve surgery as this procedure presents a viable solution to a number of the complications listed above.

The swallowing reflex is much easier with the gastric sleeve

Vomiting and choking are rare because there is no device to restrict passage of food

Less maintenance of the device means less office visits

A drop in hunger hormones allows patients to better control their appetites

Removal of the device eliminates the chance of a slipped band and mechanical failure

While the gastric sleeve surgery presents a number of advantages over the LAP-BAND® system, bariatric revision surgery is still a serious procedure, with its own set of risks and complications to consider. Additionally, as with any weight loss procedure, no guarantee can be for weight loss success. However, Dr. Kim stresses that a positive outlook supported by extensive experience can lead to meaningful weight loss and a second chance at living the life his patients desire. Ultimately, that’s what weight loss revision surgery is all about.

With thousands of gastric sleeve surgeries performed, and a complication rate of less than 1%, patients have come from across the U. S. for a consultation with Dr. Kim, whether they are considering their first weight loss surgery, or bariatric revision surgery. If you are unsatisfied with your weight loss following the LAP-BAND® procedure, or another weight loss surgery, and you are willing to commit to the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle, you owe it yourself to contact the Kim Bariatric Insitute to review the available options in a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Kim. Learn More by contacting our practice.